Straw-briquetting machine



y J. A. cuwAN. STRAW BRIQUETTING MACHINE.

Patented Jan.

MIL-)192% APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, i920. mmemf,

Jam/H.' 60W/mf 1. A. cow/IN. STRAW BRIQUETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEDv NV- 30| I920 19%@392945 Patented Jan. III., 922,

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1. A. COWAN.

sTRAw BRIQUETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONv FILED NOYV. 30| li920.

Patented Jan. MD., 1i922.,

www

J. A. COWAN.

sTRAw RlQuemNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30,1920. ]L94lc39294 Patent-ed Jan. 10., i922.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1. A. COWAN. STRAW BRIQUETTING NIACHlNE.

APPUCATIN FILED NOV- 30,1920. LQQQM Patented Jan. 109 1922.

J. A. COWAN.

STRAW BRIQUETTING MACHINE.

APPLCATION FILED NOV. 30. 1920. Lmsm, Patented Jan. w, 11922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

J. A. COWAN.

STRAW BRIQUETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FiLED NOV-30,1920.

Patented Jan. 10., w22.

LALSQQL 8 SHEEIS-SHEET 7.

r .Mm/Wm.

mm @Q QQ mm\ m 1. A. COWAN.

STRAW BRIQUETTLNG MACHINE.

APPLwATloN man Nov. so. 1920.

a SHEETS-snm n.

Patented Jan.

hill

STRA'W-BBIQUETTING IVZACHINE.

application leil November f/o u/Z 'wlw/m may concern.'

it known that l, Jouir e. Cowan, a citizen of the lominion of Canada, resident of Minneapolis, county of liennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Straw-Briquetting illaehines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for manufacturing briquettes of straw from grain or other similar fibrous material and the object of the invei 'on is to produce a machine for converting the great amount of such V'riterial that is now going to waste on the rms "uvhere, into compresse briquettes in which form it may readily be utilized as a fuel product in stoif'es, furnaces and other heatingl agencies.

Another object is to provide a machine which will produce a briquette from this material which 'll not need a separate bindinpv material in its manufacture and which Yill he held together in the process of combustion .and not disintegrate during` eX- posure to heat or moisture.

further object is to provide machine of this class which will adapt itself readily to be placed on a portable conveyance to be moved from place to place, thereby obviatthe necessity for transportingn the straw inra bulk'l form to central briquettinp plants and saying` transportation cost, as the producers of straw may also utilize the briquet*- cd product.

i still further object is to provide a portable machine of large capacity, lipht of weight, compact and readily removable by motor or animal power.

ij invention consists in general in a machine for carrying out a two stage process of briquettina` the straw without the addition of a bin dingmaterial, and which briey comprises an einulsifyinu' and binding stage and a solidify/infr and bakingB stapje.

t further consists in means for convering. forming' and compressingthe straw in one continuous? automatic operation and means for automatically controlling the opy eration.

.in the process of softening' the ber of the Specification of )Letters atont.

Patented dan. lil?, i922;

30, i929. Serial No. 427,303.

When this substancebecomes heated to a certain degree, it emulsifies or liqueesby absorbing,` a slight degree of moisture,y and generally talres vthe form of a yellow semiliquid which softens the fibers, `destroys their rigidity, and elasticity, and transforms the straw into a pliable substance easily formed and compressed into a solid body.

The temperature at which the emulsion or liquefaction occurs is ator below the bollino,- point and this is the temperature atV which initial and partial compression of the product should taire place, by which the semiliquid matter is forced through the fibers of the straw to the outward surface so that when final compression takes place the adhesive matter is evenly distributed throughoutm the whole mass.

lf the process and compression were concluded at this point a briquette would `be produced which would be held together only by an adhesive substance which could again to a degree be liquefied by the application of a certain degree of heat. or softened appreciabiy by exposure to warm or moist atmosphere. As a result of this, when the temperature was raised in the process of coin-y bustion in the stove or furnace, the briquette would have a tendency to expand and disintegrate and reform into a semblance of loose straw. and its value, especially as a stove fuel would be reduced. A similar disinte- `ratingy tendency would exist with a long exposure of the briquettes to moist atmosphere and in order to overcome this tendency it is necessary to solidify the briquette by a subsequent high compression followed by a thorough baking process while subject to the high compression. The first stage, therefore, of the briquetting process consists in the emulifying` of the natural oily guminy substance by the primary application of moderate heat, for softening the straw and distributing the adlicfif'e substance throughout the mass, the binding, together by a preliminary partial compression of the softened straw and the exposure of the compressed straw to a short period of heating above the 'boiling point for the evaporation of the natural moisture to a point before-thc natural oily substance begins to distill; the second stage beginning at this point' and comprising final compression under high pressure of the partially compressed and adhesive briquette, and a subsequent baking and solidifying process applied an extended length of time under high compression subject to the higher degree of temperature, thereby fusing and consolidating the mass into a solid body that Vcannot be disintegrated by heat or moisture.

-tially in section, of a machine embodying` myinvention,

igure 2 is a sectional view of parts shownv in elevation in" Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the machine on the lines 3-3 and 3-3 of Figure 1, and 3-3 of Figure 4,

- Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line l4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section of the machine on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a similar section on the line 6-6'of Figure 1,

Figure 7 isA a longitudinal section of the primary heating chambers taken on the line I1-7 of Figure 8,

Figure 8 `is a `semi-horizontal section of the chambers and the lines 8-8 and V824-8a of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is across section on the line 9-9 i. of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a sectional view of one of the straw feeding conveyers, the section being taken'on the line 10-,10 of'Figure 1l,

Figure 11 is a cross section on the line 114411 of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the straw feeding conveyer, shown in Figures 1() and 11, illustrating ythe automatic feed control mechanism,

Figure 13 is a sectional View on a smaller scale of one end of the straw feed conveyer and. gathering hopper, the lsection being taken on the lines13-13 of Figure 11 and 13"-13a of Figure 1,4,

Figure 14 is a cross section on the line 14.--14 of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a vertical section through the `preliminary compressor cylinder and one of the compression tubes of the traveling magazine in the baking chamber,

Figure 16 is a similar section through the final or finishing compressor cylinder and the corresponding compressor tube in the magazine,

Figures 17 and 18 are details of the compresser tubes in the traveling magazine`- showing' the method of driving the magazine and adjusting the pressure inthe tubes,

Figure 19 is a detail of the straw conveying means.

The machine as here illustrated is mounted on a portable sub-frame of any suitable incassa construction, but preferably comprising longitudinal main carrying beams 20 and 20L and 21 and 21a (see Figures 1 to 4) rigidly joinedV togetherl by cross girders 22 and 23v and suitableV spacers 24. rlhe frame is secured to a rear axle 25 having ground wheels 26- and is supported in front on an` axle 27 provided with wheels 28 preferably mounted upon steering axles 29. A suitable tongue or draw bar 30 is connected to the axle 27 to Vwhich power may beapplied to propel the machine and suitable knuckle arms 31 and 'of them and designate the similar parts of the other on the drawings with the addition of the letter a to the reference numerals.

The feeding and formnigm-echamlsm.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an endless carrier 33, driven 1n any suitable manner, Vis mounted on the rear end of themachine to which the straw 34 is pitched or otherwise supplied. This carrier delivers the straw to the mouth of an inclined carrier or feeder formed by the endless carrier belts or chains 35, mounted upon shafts 36 and 37 and similar carrier belts 38, one side of which is parallel to the carrier belts v35,- are mounted upon a driving shaft 39 and idler shafts 40 and 41. The carrier belts are provided with suitable cross bars 42, preferably having a serrated projecting edge 42a on the forward side to engage and carry the straw forward. Below the carrier belts 35 vand 38 are arranged tables or plates 43 and 44, uponwvliich the straw is partially resting while being carried forward by the cross bars 42, the table'44 being preferably slightly convex on the upper side for reasons which will hereinafter appear. As shown in Figure 2, the straw is carried up and around the driving shaft 39 and its sprocket wheel 39b and then downward over the convex table 44. This table is at its upper end provided with a curved section 44b which may extend around to the upper carrier belt 35 to guide the straw around the curve, but l prefer to arrange a series of rollers 45, suitably journaled in the enclosing casing 46 and either idling orV driven in the directionfof the arrows by a train of gears Vor other similar means, not

shown on the drawings. The upper carrier shaft 37 is driven from the shaft 39 and in the same direction, preferably through Van idler gear 47, and both carrier belts 35 4and ,l

ifacaaee 38 are driven by mechanism which will hereinafter be more fully described, intermittently or in a step by step'movement, which delivers the straw to a cross conveyer a8, the details of which are shown most clearly in Figure 3, it being understood that the construction oi' the conveyer 4S is identically the same as shown in the oonveyer 48h rllhe conveyer consists of a trough or housing in which runs an endless chain belt 49 mounted upon sprocket wheels 50a and 5l and shafts 52a and 53. The links oi the chain are provided with projecting carrier dogs 54a, the preferred construction of which is shown in Figure 19, where the dog 5a is shown pivotally mounted upon a. projecting end oie `the link pin 55a andhaving a tail piece 56a which normally extends backwards ytender the projecting end of the following link pin 57a. rl`his prevents the upper end or' the dog 'from tilting forward and the bottom plate 48h upon which the chain slides normally prevents their backward tilting.

To the forward end of the plate d8a is secured a strap 59a curving backwards under the Ashaft 52a and guiding the dogs in a carrying position for a certain distance until released or tilted to any convenient position, from which they are again brought to a working position by passing around the curved rea-r end 602 of the bottom plate The straw is discharged into the conveyer trough 48' by the inclined carrier belts 38n and is conveyed by the chain belt L19a around the curved hood 6in and through the chute 62a into longitudinal conveyer trough 63L in which operates an endless conveying` chain belt 64a having carrier dogs 65a of substantially the same construction as the carrier dogs The conveyers 48 and d8 being identical in construction and function as parts of two similar units, the straw is also delivered from the conveyer 48 in a like manner to theI longitudinal conveyer 63. The endless chain belt 64; operating in this conveyer, having carrier dogs 65, is mounted upon sprocket wheels 66 and 67 (see Figures l() to 13) and is 'preferably driven from a shaft 68 journaled upon the main fra-me and having a sprocket wheel 69, around which the under section of the chain runs, passing over idler wheels 70 and 7l., as shown most clearly in Figure 12. The chain belt 6- conveys the straw into the rectangulai chargingchamber 72, (see Figures 13 and la) the bottom of which is formed by the plunger head 73 upon which the straw is deposited. rlhe housing 74 ot the chamber 7 2 may be supported upon the main frame in any suitable way, but preferably bv being rigidly secured to the cornpression chamber housing 7 5, which in turn is securely bolted to the .trame beams 20. The forming;` chamber housing` 74C includes a rectangular guideway 76, open to the chamber 72, in which operates a orming plunger 77 at a right angle to the plunger 73r and passing through the chamber 72. rlhe forward end of the plunger 77 is 'formed in a semi-circular concave 7 S vwhich is adapted, when the plunger is advanced to register with and forni one side wall of' the initial compressor cylinder 79 (see lligures l and 14). il knife blade 80, having an inclined sharpened edge 8l, is removably fastened to a flange of the housing 7e by bolts or screws 82. `When a predetermined amount or charge of straw has been deposited upon the plunger head 73 by the conveyer 63, the plunger is automatically raised to the position shown in Figure il), when the charge will have been transferred to the upper portion orn the chamber 72 in a horizontal line with the plunger 77 and slightly compressed. The plunger will then advance past the knife edge 8l to the limit ot its stroke, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure la, and any straws protruding beyond the lrniie will be cut off and the charge ot straw will be formed into a loosely compressed cylindrical body in the initial compressor cylinder 79.

The (ZM/vc md ,feed control.

Referring again to Figures l and il, the main driving sha-ft Sli, mounted in snit-able bearings S5, 86 and 86CL upon diagonally disiosedt'rame members 87, carries a pinion 88, a sprocket wheel 89, a driving pulley 90 and preferably a ily wheel 9i. Power may be applied to the pulley from any suitable source, such as an internal combustion or steam engine. A transmission or counter shaft 92 is journaled in bearings 93 and 9d, below the shaft Sel, and is provided with agear 95 meshing' with the pinion 88, an eccentric 96, a sprocket wheel 97 and pinions 98 and 98a'. The compressor shaft 99 is mounted in bearings L100 and 10Ga upon the main frame beams 2O and 2 a and is driven from the shalt 92 by means of large gears lOl and lOl meshing with the pinions 9S and 98n respectively. rlhe shait 99 drives a longitudinally and centrally mounted cam shaft 102 by means oil a pair of miter gears 103 and this shaft carries cams 104, 4105. and 106 which actuate the forming and feed control mechanism, as will hereinatter be more fully described. The feeding movement oli the rear carrying chain belts 35 and 38 must be slow, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, and for the purpose et simplitying the speed reduction gearing l. prefer to move the carriers by a step by step movement which is actuated by the eccentric 96. fr connecting rod 107 is rigidly secured to the strap of the eccentric 96 and pivotally to a rocker arm 103 upon a roclr shaft 109 mounted in suitable bearings in the auxiliary trames ll() and 110g.

lll)

.fin arm 111 is secured to the rock Vshaft 109, to which is connecteda vertical rod 112 having pivoted connections with a bell crank lever 113. r1`his lever carries a gravity pawl 114, normally engaging a ratchet wheel 115 secured to the carrier drive shaft 39, by which means this shaftis actuated by forward intermittent movement by the eccentric 96. The conveyer 48 to which the straw is delivered by this movement is driven at a constant and considerably higher speed by means of the sprocket wheel 89, above referred to, which is shown mounted on the main driving shaft 84 but may be as readily secured upon the transmission shaft 92 and which transmits rotary motion through a chain 11G and large sprocket wheel 117 toa shaft 119 journaled in bearings 120 and 121, preferably arranged upon thel housing of the conveyors 43 and The shaft 119 is shown in Figure 4 extending the full width of the machine, driving both the conveyer 43 and 48a through the bevel gears 122 and 122a geared to drive the conveyer shafts 52 and 52a. The longitudinal conveyer `63, lto which the straw is delivered from the cross conveyor chain `49 is preferably driven from lthe sprocket wheel 97 upon the transmission shaft 92 by means of the chain 122b passing from the sprocket wheel 97 arounda sprocket 691) upon the shaft 68. 1t will be seen that the straw is conveyed by the above described means in a continuous stream to the forming Vchamber 72 and that, therefore, when the plunger head 72 is raised, the straw is barred'from entering the chamber by the intervening side of the plunger. To prevent undue strain on the chain and other parts, 1 provide means so that when the plunger is raised, the carrier dogs on the portionV of the chain next to the forming chamber will be automatically and temporarily brought out of action, and the straw permitted to freely accumulate some distance in the rear of the entrance to thel forming chamber, while the plunger is raised. v

Referring now to Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, the bottom or drag` plate 123 of the conveyor housing upon which the chain belt slides is for a considerable distance from the rear composed of a single piece supported by or fastened to the side walls of the conveyer trough. At the forward end,

however, 1 divide the Lbottom longitudinally.

into three sections, the middle section supported upon the bracket 124 being a continuation of the rear end portion and the short guide sections 125, upon which the tailV pieces of the carrier dogs slide, being fastened to a yoked vertically movable rod 127. This rod is connected by a link 128 (see Figures 13 and 14). to a lever 129 pivoted toa bracket 130 at 131 and universally incassa linked to a bell crank lever 132 at 132band to vertical plunger rods 133 which straddle the conveyer housing and are connected at 135 'to the plunger guide bars 136. Guideways 137 are provided in the plunger housing 74 in which the guide-bars Y136 slide, and the side walls of the plunger head 73 are preferably braced to the head by a strengthening rib 137".

r1he bell cranlr Vto which the guide bars 13()l are secured lever 132 is pivotally mounted at 138 upon the vcross frame piece, 139, as shown in is alternately raised and lowered at each revolution of the cam 104and held in the raised and lowered positions a predetermined length of time. lWhen the plunger head is in the lowered position, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the yoked rod 127,

supporting the guide sections 125 of the con-v veyer bottom, will be raised, holding the carrier dogs 65 in `a working position, as will be clearly seen Vby reference to these figures, and when the plunger headV is raised, as indicated in yFigure 10, the guide sections 125' will be lowered andk by thus permitting the dogs 65 lto tilt backwards,

will render them inoperative for carrying the straw forward, as shown in Figure 10, and the straw will accumulate in the corresponding area of the conveyer with Aa slight pressure against the .plunger side while it is raised, ready to quickly enter the chamber 72 in a body when the plunger is lowered and the guide sections 125 simultaneously raised.

For the purpose of preventing an overteedv oit straw to the forming chamber 72,

1 provide means for automatically throwing another and. greater section of the carrying dogs 65 in the conveyor?) out of feeding action and simultaneously stopping the intermittent feed movement of the rear carrier belts 35 and 38. Referring to Figures 1 and 10 to 12, separate guide sections 143 extend rearwards from the sections in the bottom of the conveyor 63 and are pivoted to the permanent bottom plate at 144. The

sections are held in a raised-position byv means of arms 145 and 146, having a pin 147 passing through slots 148, formedd by straps l 149 on the under side of the sections 143,-the arms being supported upon a shaft 150. The pin 147 is held in position in the slots 148 slightly forward in a vertical line of the shaft 150by means o-fa coiled spring 151 and in this positionthe guide sections-'143 are raisedy to hold the dogs 65 in an upright working position, as shown by full lines inV Figures 10, 12 and 13. "When,` however, the

V.Figure 12 V.arms and 146 are tilted backwards, as

indicated by dotted lines in Figure 12, the

sections 143 will be lowered, throwing the carrier dogs to inactive position at a gradually diminishing ratio rearwards to-. waiwls the pire't pointv 144. The arms 145 and 146 are tilted backwards when the chamber 73 is iilled excessively by a too rapid leed ol' straw, the excess` exerting a backward and downward pressure againsta pressure controlling section148b,-hinged to the lguide sections 125 at 149h and provided with iliorwardly projected prongs 150b and an arm 151b to which a. coiled spring 152 is .connected 'for holding the section 148b in a yielding. raised position. The tension of the spring 152 may be adjustable by any suitable means, such as a threaded Ibolt and adjusting nut 153, so to regulate the `tension required on the prongs 150b to press the section 148b downwards by the accumu lating straw. `When this. occurs, the arm 151b moves forward, as shown by dotted lines .in Figure 12, carrying with ita collar 154, sliding upon an inclined rod 155, 'through a lrod'156, connected to the arm 151b and having a sliding connection with a lug 157 of the collar 154. The rod 156 is provided with a head 158 which engages the lug 157 when the arm 151 is moved forward and slides the collar 154 in a downward direction against the light tension o'f a spring 159. A vertical arm 160 is keyed to the rock shaft 109 and carries at its upper end a oravity detent or pawl 161 resting upon the lug 157 of the collar 154 and having a shoulder or hook 162; Normally, the detent 161 slides forwards and backwards on the lug 157 with the shoulder 162 passing directly over the projecting end 145b of the arm 145, but when the collar 154 moves lorward and downward, as a conseuuence of abnormal pressure of the straw on the sectionl` the shoulder 162 on its backward movement will engage the upper end 145h of the `arm 145 and swinging it backward past the Vvertical center of the tension line ofthe' spring 151, the arm 145 and guide sections 143 will assume the Vdotted line position in in which the carrier dogs 65 are inactive, as heretofore explained. A, suitable chain 1623 or other connection lbetween the arm 145 and collar 154 restores the collar to its original elevated position when 'the arm 145 is tilted backwards, as the spring 151 is of sullicient tension to overcome the tension of the straw on the hinged section 1481 until the plunger is raised and the hinged section lowered, thereby releasing the tension. This movement also restores the arm 145 to its normal vertical position by means of a projecting arm 164 being struck by the enlarged lower end of a vertical rod 165 which is connected to ,ses

the lever-129 at 166 (see Figures 1 and 13). Simultaneously, with the backward tilting ot the arm 145 to throw the conveyer `feed out ot' action, the rear carryingI wheels 35 and 25S Jfeeding straw to the conveyer 48 are also brought outot action by automatically ilisengaging the pawl 114 Ylrom the ratchet 115. This l preferably accomplish by a vertical rod 167` connected to the arm 145 below and to an arm-,168 above pivoted on the pin 169 ot the bell crank lever 113. The pawl 114 is provided with a lug 171 and a coiledv tension spring 172 connects this lug to a projecting end 173 of the rod 167. When the arm.145 is tilted backwards, the rod 167 puts this spring under su'llicient tension to raise the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheed 115, stopping the teed of the carrier chains 35 and 38. lVith thel restoration oli the arm 145, the tension of the spring 172 is released, permitting the pawl 114 to again Contact with theratchet 115 and start the vfeed.

Referring to Figures 4, 6 and 14, the horizontal forming plunger 77, directing the straw from the chamber 72 to the initial compressor cylinder 79, is operated periodically by means of a. link 174 connected to the plunger 77 at 175 and to a follower arm 176, preferably pivotally connected to a 'frame piece 177 at 17 8, and having rollers 179 traveling in lcam grooves (not shown) formed in the cam 106 and also preferably in similar grooves formed in thecam 105. The contour of these cam grooves is substantially like that oli' the grooves in the cam 104 for the operation ot the vertical plunger yhead 73, producing a rapid movement in both directions and a pause at either' end .of the movement, the sequence ot movements being as follows: The vertical charging plunger '73 rmoves upwards, carrying the measure of straw` vnecessary for a briquette oli lthe adopted size. lt

pauses while the horizontal forming plunger The emuleifjz/mg, compressing and solidify/- ng mech-amena Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 5, the straw in its slow and long passage from the carrier 33 to the conveyer 48 over the plates 43 and 44is subjected to a primary heating tion of the'fuel.

1 prefer generally to use some ot the briquettes made by the machine, which are ted through chutes 185 to the grate 188 forming the bottom ot the combustion chan ber.

188. 1n the center of the combustion chamber 184: 1 `prefer to arrange converging plates 189 and 190, separated by a narrow slot 191 at the top through which additional air enters the combustion chamber 184: from an opening 192 to aid in the more perfect combuslnduced by the suction ot f the fan 183, the hot products ot combustion pass'upwards through a heating iiue 198 surrounding a baking chamber, then down` wards, and out trom the 'flue through pipe 1911 to the primary heatingv chamber (See also Figures 7 to 'whey pass Y'trom this chamber to the heating; chamber '180' through a passage 195 and from the cbam ber 180 through an opening` 195b and a duct or pipe 196 to the fan 188 troni which; it -is exhausted through a pipe 197.

For the purpose of retarding` the passage of the heated gases and distributing; the heat equally through the chambers 180 and Y181 and to radiate .a maximum amount of heat to thevstraw, 1 enlarge the area of the carrier,an-d heating, chambers as Jar as practical and provide the chambers withy a series of baille plates 198.v Tl e heating chambers `may be constructed and the plates 198 may be arranged in various ways and 1 do .not

vcoiiiine myseli'f to the construction shown,

but in general the circulation ot the heated i `gases follows the path indicated by thea?- rows in .Fip'ures 1, 55 and 8. rllhe initial temperature oit the gases passing from the furnace 184 is considerably above the boiling point', but a great deal or this heatis lgiven oir' in the flue 193 before reaching the heating chambers 181 and 180 and generally the degree oiv heat maintained in vthese chambers is at or near boiling temperature.

' The degree of heat is, oi course, greatest in the chamber 181, gradually lessening towards and in the chamber 180 vas the heat is transferred and taken up by the straw above the chamber. As the straw first enters yabove the chamber 180, this heat distribution provides for a gradual increase in the An ash pit 187 is provided under the Vgrate and air is supplied vto the furnace through suitable regulating` dampeis degreey of heat to which thestraw'ris sub- Vjected as it progresses through lthe heater 182. The effect oi? this heating process on the straw is to soften or emulsify the fiber ot the straw. by liquefyin',g` the oily, gummy matter contained in thefstraw. rlhis is nec@ vto theforming;Ichamber "Y29 l.. prefer to provide a cover f8 (see Figures 10 and 11) and lalso cover the chain Gel by means of strips 638 stretcl'ied between the chamber wall 71 and a bar .680 by means of a threaded 4eye- 'bolt 68T.. Angle strips 68g projectingr over the tail portionot the carrier dogs are i'astened to the conveyor sides7 leaving slots 68h through which the vertical part oi 'the dous 65 pass. y v l V The :final compression and solidiication is accomplished within a chamber or oven 200, surrouniecl by the heatingliue 193 and supporte-d byvertical frame members 201 and 202and enclosed by side walls 203v and 204ito which arev tightly connected a Ywall 205 surrounding an endless belt magazine 208 inthe oven 200 containing semi-compressed and fully compressed briquettes. n rllhe mag azine is composed of series oftraveling bricluejttino; tubes 20"?V which .are i'astened to chain blocks or'links 208 and 209 having pin connections 210, as shown more particularly in Figure 17, and is mounted upon upper sprocket wiiee'ls 211 on an idling shaft 212 'and lower 'driving sprocketwheels 213 and 218b rsecured toa driving shaft 214-. rthe siiaitts 212 and 214 are journaled in bearings 215 and 216 respectivelyandthe v'driving' shaft 218 carries a ratchet wheel 218, a thrust collar 219 land a shoulder or enlarged portion .220 abutting' the sprocket wheels 218 vand 213".y A step by step movement is imparted to the endless belt magazine by means of the Varms 221 loosely mounted upon thehub oi the ratchet wheel 218 and provided with a pawl 222 which `engages the ratchet wheel( 218. The tubes o preferably project out beyond the wall 2041 and a slot 204:1 is provi'ded'in theV wall .through which the tubes pass, andA an outer door or removable cover 204i@v isprovided by which access may be had to the tubes.

Periodic 'reciprocating motion is imparted tothe arms 221 from the cam 104 (see Figure 6) havinga groove 221v in v'which operates a roller 225 fastened onla substance with the fiber of the straw.

l provide the tubes 204' with shouldered heads 228 which, as Vthe tubes are consecutrely placed in posit-ion for co iression contact 'with the travel of the magazine, against a bearing block 229 ri 'idly connected to theA frame beams Q0. The heads 225% are provided With a flarinfr mouth st ring with the inner cylin'rical conthe tubes 20T, through which the osely formed and softened heated straw charge 281 is introduced for preliminary compression in the tube by the compressor plunger or piston 232, workingin the cylinl Y der 79. rihis piston is operated from a crank pin 233, rigidly secured to the gear Wheel 101 and having a connecting; rod 234 pirotaily connected to a cross head operating .in a suitable guideway Q36, the said cross head 235 being connected to the piston by rod 237. fis the gear Wheel 101 rotates from the position shown in Figure 15 to that shown by the `gear Wheel 101 in Figure si, the piston is advanced and the straw charge 231 is forced into the tube 20T being in alineinent with the cylinder 79 at the point B until it assumes the partially compressed briquette form shown at 231) in Figure v16. The briquette in this form is looselyv hound together by the emuisified mattei' contained in the straw and this Inatter will be partially dried and the moisture removed from the mass during' the time consumed for one revolution the endl-ei' belt magazine 200 or until the brirguette arrives at the final compression point at C it will be understood that for each stroke of j:he plunger in 'the operstion of the Lachine, the magazine will advance one step in t of the arrows in Figures 5 and 11iV ou'ection and tl'iat 'eine uml contain a brii'guette compressed u til it arriyes and f' l compression point at (l, Tl pression cylinder 23S is in accurate axial alineinent with this point and simultaneously with the compression stroke the piston 2532, the crank pin impels a pis- Jfon Q39 operating in the cyiinder to :i oru'ard stroke throughA the connecting' rod 240, crosshead 2er and rod 0&2, there wy re- 1'.oin;,iressing the briquette Q31" ag inst the hiwh frictional resistance of a series of brifuiettes previously compressed in the tube. and thoroughly fusing the gunimy in order to regulate the frictional resistance of the briquettes in the tube 231, provide a longitulinal slot 2&3 in the forward end of the tubes end a clanr ing` collar 2st-i provided with an adjusting' s; i, -i embraces the slotted portion of the tube by which the tube may be compressed at its end to any degree for furnishing` the desired resist- :ince to the emerging briquettes. After their final compression the briquettes remain in the tube for as many revolutions of the endless magazine as there are number of briquettes in each tube, as one briquette is introduced and only one ejected each time a tube passes the compression point C. During the Whole period of this number of revolutions, which -will vary according' to the ratio of length of the tubes and oriquettes, the briquettes ere subyected to the high degree of heat existing` in the even 103 Which balies and solidifies the compressed adhesive substance and straw fiber into a hard, homogeneous body which will not again disintegrate1 ft Will be seen from the foregoing that the heated' and partially conun'essed briquettes are exposed to a period of heat from the highest degree of heat near the furnace, lasting for one revolution of the endless belt magazine for the purpose of drying the natural binding substance, and that the completely compressed briquettes are exposed to the saine degree of heat for a much longer period to bake and solidify the compresed product.

'1t is evident that various modifications may be made in the construction of the niaehine Without departing from the principle and scope of the invention, and 1 do not, therefore, limit myself to the construction shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of making straw briquettes which consists in first heating' the straw to soften the inherent lglutinous constituent, then compressing' the briquettes formed from the straw to cause the particles thereof to adhere together, and finally baking the briquettes to set or harden the glutinous binder. f

2. A process of making` stra-W briquettes which consists first in heating; the straw to soften theA inherent vglutinous constituent, shaping' the briquette and then compressing it to cause the softened fibers to adhere together, and finally baking` the briquette to harden or set the glut-mous binder.

A process of making straw briquettes which consists in heating` the stra r toa teinilierature at or near the boiling' point and softening` the. inherent glutinous constituent, then shaping the briquette and subjecting' it to pressure. and finally baking' the briquette to set or harden the glutinous constituent.

4c. A process of making' strauT briquettes which consists in feeding' and heating the straw to soften the glutinous constituent therein, shaping the softened straw in a former, then subjecting the material to pressure to cause the particles to adhere together, and finally baking the compressed briquette to set or harden the `srlutinous constituent.

5. A process or making straw briquettes which consists first inheating the straw to soften the inherent glutinous constituentX then shaping the briquette and compressing' the softened fibrous matter, and iinally passing the briquette through a baking` oven toharden or set the glutinous element.

(S. A process of making,` straw briquettes which consists first in heating the straw to soften the inherent glutinous constituent.l shaping the briquette in a suitable former, then forcing the briquette from the former into a mold and partially compressing it, and finally baking and compressing` the briquette to harden or set the glutinous element. 7. A process of making straw briquettes which consists in heatingthe straw to soften or release the inherent glutinous constituent, shaping' `the briquette in a suitable former, then orcing the briquette into intermittently movingmolds and partially Acompressing it and finally subjecting` the briquettes to a compressing' and baking opera-` tion while in said molds.

8. A process of making briquettes of straw which consists first in softening' Vthe straw to release the glutinous constituent, then subjecting the straw to pressure to form it into briquettes, and finally baking the briquettes to set or harden said lglutinous constituent.

9. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding straw and heating it during` the feeding operation to soften the inherent glutinous constituent, a former whereto the softened straw is delivered for shaping into a briquette, aA traveling' mold mounted to receive the briquette so formed from said former, means for compressing the briquette in said mold to cause the elements thereof to adhere together, and means throughwhich the mold is passed for baking the briquette Vto harden ory set the glutinous constituent while contained in said mold.

10. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding straw and heating it during the feeding operation to soften the inherent glutinous constituent, a former whereto the softened straw is delivered for shaping` yinto a briquette, a plurality of molds mounted to register successively with said former and receive briquettes intermittently therefrom, and means for compressing and baking the briquettes while contained in said molds.

11. An apparatus of the class described comprising' means for feeding straw, and heating the same to soften or release its glutinous constituent, a former mounted to receive and shape the straw into a briquette, a plurality or molds mounted to travel past said former and receive the briquettes successively therefrom, means for forcing the partially formed briquet-tes into said molds, and compressing them therein, and a heat ing oven through which the molds are mounted to travel.

12. An apparatus of the class described comprising;l meansfor feeding straw and heating' it .during the feeding' operation to soften the glutinous material therein, a former whereto the straw is delivered and shaped into a briquette, a plurality of molds mounted Vto travel past said former and intermittently pause in register with said former to receive the incomplete briquette therefrom, means-for compressing the brioguette in said molds and a baking` oven through which the molds are successively passed with the briquettes contained therein.

13. An apparatus for making; straw briquettes comprising means for feeding and heatingi the straw to soften the glutinous. constituent, a former whereto the straw is delivered having; vertically and horizontally moving plungers for sha-ping the straw in said former, and molds mounted to intermittently register with said former and receive the partially compressed briquettes therefrom, means for compressing the briquettes in said molds, and a baking oven through which the molds with the briquettes therein are passed.

14. The combination, with means for feeding and heatingv fibrous material to soften the glutinous inherent constituent, of a shapinn` mold and means for lorming` a briquette of the softened material, an endless belt of compression molds having a step by step movement and mounted to register successively with said shaping mold to receive the incomplete briquette therefrom, means for Vcompressing;` the briquette in said compression mold, and means for baking it to set or harden the glutinous constituent.

15. The combination, with a shaping mold and means for feeding a fibrous material thereto and means for forming the briquette in said mold, of a plurality of traveling molds mounted to register successively with said shaping mold, means for forcing the briquette from said shaping mold into said compression mold and compressingfr it therein, and a baking oven through which said traveling' molds move- 16. The combination, with means for feeding' and heating,- fibrous material to soften theglutinous constituent therein, of a shaping mold whereto the fibrous material is delivered, means for partially forming the briquette in said shaping mold, a plurality of compression molds mounted to register successively with said shaping moldv and naoaeee Q;

receive the incomplete briquette therefrom, means for forcing the incomplete briquette from said shaping mold into one of said compression molds and subjecting it to pressure therein, a baking oven wherein the compression molds travel for baking the briquettes and setting or hardening the glutinous material, each subsequently formed and baked briquette being discharged from its compression mold after a predetermined passage through said oven by the pressure of the later formed briquet-tes.

17. rlhe combination, with the traveling briquette forming molds and means for feeding and heating a fibrous material and delievering it to said molds, of means for compressing the fibrous material in said molds and means through which the molds pass for baking the briquette to set or harden the glutinous material softened by the heating operation.

18. rihe combination, With the traveling briquette forming molds, of means for feeding and heating fibrous material and delivering it to said molds and subjecting it to pressure therein, and an oven through Which said molds are passed following the compressing operation to bake or set the glutinous material softened by the heating operation.

19. The combination, with means for feeding and heating a fibrous material to soften the inherent glutinous constituent, of traveling briquette molds arranged in groups and mounted to receive the heated fibrous material, means for compressing the fibrous material in said molds to form briquettes, and a baking oven through Which said molds are moved to harden the glutinous constituent.

20. The combination, with a pair of briquette shaping molds and means for delivering a heated 'fibrous material thereto, magazines of traveling compression molds arranged opposite the shaping molds and mounted respectively to register successively with said shaping molds and receive the incomplete briquettes in softened form therefrom, means for compressing the briquettes in said compression molds, a baking oven through which the groups of compression molds are slowly moved to set the glutinous constituent in the fibrous material, softened by the heating operation, the operation of forcing the briquets into said compression molds and compressing them therein ejecting the previously formed and baked briquettes from said compression molds.

2l. rl`he combination, with means for feeding fibrous material having a broad feeding surface and means for heating the fibrous material during the feeding movement, of a conveyer operating transversely with' respect to said feeding means to receive the material therefrom, a conveyer operating longitudinally of said feeding means to receive the fibrous material from said transverse conveyer, means for forming the fibrous material into a briquette and means for subjecting the briquette to pressure and means for baking it.

22. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for feeding and heating a fibrous material to soften its gummy constituent, means for shaping the material and initially compressing it to form a briquette, means for finally compressing the briquette, means for baking it to set or harden the gummy constituent, and means for automatically regulating the feed of the material to said compressing and baking means.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of November, 1920.

JOHN A. @0l/VAN. 

